Apparatus for capturing and entrapping an insect

ABSTRACT

A device for entrapping an insect includes a hollow cylinder, a piston located in the cylinder and sealed at an inner surface of the cylinder, a spring for urging the piston to move axially in the cylinder; and a releasable latch for securing the piston in an armed state, wherein the spring applies a force tending to move the piston axially and for releasing the piston from the armed state to produce a partial vacuum. A disposable cartridge containing an adherent able to entrap an insect pneumatically communicates with the suction side of the cylinder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to an apparatus for entrapping aninsect or another item. More particularly, an embodiment pertains todisposing of the entrapped item.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Insect capturing devices are often large, complex, and cumbersome tooperate, and require an electric power supply. Some insect capturingdevices require dangerous chemicals, which precludes their use in thevicinity of food preparation and service areas.

There is a need for a portable device that captures insects easily,reliably in a disposable container without the user risking contact withchemicals and without need for a power source. The device preferablyprovides a convenient, low-cost, disposable container that can bediscarded safely with the captured insect located in the container.

The device is preferably reusable and the disposable container shouldprovide a reasonable service life before replacement is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device for entrapping an insect includes a hollow cylinder, a pistonlocated in the cylinder and sealed at an inner surface of the cylinder,a spring for urging the piston to move axially in the cylinder, and areleasable latch for securing the piston in an armed state, wherein thespring applies a force tending to move the piston axially and forreleasing the piston from the armed state to produce a partial vacuum. Adisposable cartridge containing an adherent able to entrap an insectpneumatically communicates with the suction side of the cylinder.

The device is light-weight, manually operated and self-contained,requiring neither an external power source nor harsh or dangerouschemicals. It is easy to use and requires no clean-up after its use.

The device has handle and has an overall length of a suitable dimensionto facilitate its reaching into hard-to-reach places. Its constructionis simple and requires few moving parts.

The device is proven reliable and effective in drawing insects into adisposable cartridge with risk of their escape after capture.

The device operates pneumatically with a tubular cylinder having an openfront end, a piston and a removable cartridge.

The piston is moved manually by the operator to an armed state againstthe force of a compression spring. A cartridge is inserted into the openend of the tube.

In operation, the open end of the tube that holds the cartridge is heldnear an insect with the piston in the armed, latched position. A releasebutton is depressed to release the piston and allow it produce a vacuumin the cartridge. This action between the spring and piston produces aquick and strong vacuum in the front end of the tube, drawing the insectinto the removable cartridge where it adheres to a tacky gel, whichlines the inner surface of the cartridge. The cartridge can be removed,discarded and then replaced with a new cartridge.

The scope of applicability of the preferred embodiment will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, claims and drawings.It should be understood, that the description and specific examples,although indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given byway of illustration only. Various changes and modifications to thedescribed embodiments and examples will become apparent to those skilledin the art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages will become readily apparent to those skilledin the art from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a pneumatically actuated device for capturingand discarding insects;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view partially in cross section showing a hingedportion of a cylinder of the device of FIG. 1 pivoted about a hingeaxis;

FIG. 3 is cross section taken at a diametric plane of the device of FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view partially cross sectioned showing a pistonrod engaged with a latch that holds and releases the rod;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a cylindrical cartridge for use with thedevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a conical cartridge for use with thedevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross section taken at the outer end of thedevice of FIG. 1 with a cartridge installed;

FIG. 8 is a side view of an alternate cylindrical cartridge for use withthe device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of alternate embodiment of the apparatusshown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is a cross section taken at the end of the handle of alternateembodiment of the device shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 11 is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, a pneumatically actuated device forcatching and discarding insects includes a hollow cylindrical handle 12,which is closed at one end 14 except for a vent hole 15 and having anopening at the opposite end 16. A hollow cylinder 18, preferably havinga smaller diameter than that of the handle is open at each axial end andsecured to the handle 12. A hollow tube 20, preferably having a smallerdiameter than that of cylinder 18 and open at each axial end, is securedto an end 22 of cylinder 18 and extends axially to its open end 24.Preferably handle 12, cylinder 18 and tube 20 are aligned with alongitudinal axis 26. The relative sizes of the diameters and lengths ofthe handle 12, cylinder 18 and tube 12 may vary, such that any of thesecomponents may have the largest or smallest diameter, and any of thesecomponents may have the longest or shortest length.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, handle 12 is formed in two portions 28,30, which are joined by a hinge plate 32, secured by screws to eachportion, such that portion 30 can pivot about a transverse axis 34 toopen the handle 12 and provide manual, external access to the handle'sinterior. An actuating member or button 36 extends radially from axis26.

FIG. 2 shows the hinged portion 30 of handle, 12 pivoted about the hingeaxis 34 and exposing an arming member 40, secured to a piston rod 42 andformed with a recess 44. The radial periphery 46 of arming member 40 isclosely fitted relative to the inner surface 48 of cylinder 12. Pistonrod 42, arming member 40 and recess 44 move axially as a unit withinhandle 12 along axis 24 from the end 14 of handle 12 toward theactuating member 36, preferably with an assist that provides amechanical advantage. Access to the arming member 40 within handle 12 isprovided by pivoting the handle portion 30 about the hinge axis 34 toopen the handle.

FIG. 3 shows arming member 40 located in handle 12 and secured to rod 42at one axial end, and a second piston 45 secured to the opposite end ofthe rod and located in cylinder 18. Piston 45 carries two O-rings 46,each of which is fitted in a circumferential recess on piston 45 andresiliently contacts the inner surface 48 of the cylinder 18, therebyforming a pneumatic seal between piston 45 and surface 48. A helicalcoiled compression spring 50, located in cylinder 18 and contacting anaxial face 52 of piston 45 and the cylinder end 22, urges the pistonassembly 54 toward the end 14 of handle 12. Spring 50 opposes movementof the piston assembly 54 in the opposite axial direction. A rubber disc51, located at the end of cylinder 18, buffers contact between piston 45and the end 16 of handle 12 and stabilizes the piston movement.

As FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate, actuating member 36 is located in acylindrical retainer 62, which is secured to handle 12 and is directedtransverse to axis 26. Actuating member 36 is formed with an axialopening 56 and a pin 58, which extends laterally across the opening andsubstantially normal to axis 26 and piston rod 42. A helical coiledcompression spring 66, located in retainer 62, continually urges theactuating member 36 toward rod 42 and into engagement with recess 44when the recess becomes aligned with pin 58 as the rod moves axiallyalong axis 26. Spring 66 continually opposes downward movement of theactuating member 36 and movement of pin 58 away from recess 44 and rod42. Spring 66 urges actuating member 36 to the top of retainer 62.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, tube 20 carries on its outer surface anelastic retainer 70, such as an band 70 or a rubber O-ring, the retainerbeing spaced a suitable distance from its end 24. A disposable cartridge72 has the form of a hollow circular cylinder 74, as shown in FIG. 5, orof a truncated cone 76, as shown in FIG. 6. In either case, the innerend of cartridge 72 is covered by a porous screen 78 secured to the wallof the cartridge. The outer end of cartridge 72 is fitted with a narrow,flexible tab 80. At least a portion of the inner surface 82 of cartridge72, preferably a portion located near screen 78 and extending axiallyoutward toward the outer end 84, is lined with an adhering substance 86such as grease, glycerin, oil, petroleum jelly, or another substancehaving similar adhesive, tacky, gummy properties and consistency.

As FIG. 7 shows, the cartridge 72 is inserted into tube 20 though itsopen end 24 with the screen 78 located away from the open end 24 and thetab 80 wrapped over the outer surface of the tube 20 and under theelastic band 70. Cartridge 72 is secured to the tube 20 by the elasticband 70.

In operation, the device 10 is armed after opening cylinder 12 bypivoting cylinder portion 30 to the position shown in FIG. 2 andmanually depressing arming member 40 against the force of spring 50until recess 44 latches against latch pin 58. When the piston assembly54 is latched, piston 45 is preferably located close to the outer end 22of cylinder 18. The device 10 is then aimed at a target, such as aninsect, by locating tube 20 and cartridge 72 near the target. Theactuating member 36 is depressed manually, thereby disengaging thepiston assembly 54 from latch pin 58. Spring 50 forces the sealed piston45 rapidly leftward until arming member 40 reaches the end 14 ofcylinder 12. This action produces a partial vacuum in tube 20, cartridge72 and cylinder 18, which vacuum draws the target into the cartridge 72,where it contacts and adheres to the substance 86 located in thecartridge. The device can be reused with the current cartridge 72, oreach cartridge can be discarded and replaced after each use with a newcartridge before its next use.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a disposable cartridge90, in which the outer end 92 is substantially aligned with the open end24 of tube 20 when the cartridge is installed. A hinged disc 94,supported on the wall of the cartridge 90 is closed by positive pressureproduced at the head of piston 45 when the device 10 is armed. Disc 94opens axially inward by the partial vacuum developed in cartridge 90 andtube 20 when the actuating member 36 is depressed and piston 45 isreleased. The hinged disc 94 can be applied also to the conicalcartridge 76 shown in FIG. 6, or to a cartridge of any suitable shape.

FIG. 9 illustrate an alternative embodiment, in which the device 10 isarmed and latched as the handle portion 30 is pivoted on hinge 32 andthe handle 12 is opened. In this embodiment, arming member 40 isreplaced by a pulley wheel 100 secured to piston rod 42 for rotationabout an axis 102 of the pulley. The actuating piston 45, which islocated in and moves axially along cylinder 18, is secured to piston rod42 and is pneumatically sealed between the inner surface 48 of cylinder18 and the outer surface of piston 45, as shown in FIG. 3. A flexiblebelt 104, such as a wire, rope or string, is secured at one end to theinner surface of handle portion 30, loops around the pulley wheel 100,and is secured the inner surface of handle portion 28.

In operation, as the hinged cylinder portion 30 is pivoted to closehandle 12 as shown in FIG. 1, spring 50 moves piston rod 42, recess 44and piston 45 to the disarmed state of FIG. 3 axially to the armedposition shown in FIG. 4. When the hinged cylinder portion 30 is openedby pivoting it about axis 34, the belt 104 is tightened about pulleywheel 100 as its end moves with handle portion 30 to the position ofFIG. 9. This movement of the belt 100 forces pulley 102, piston rod 42,recess 44 and piston 45 to move axially to the armed position of FIG. 4,where latch pin 58 engages the recess 44. In the armed position, piston45 is located close to the outer end 22 of cylinder 18.

Next, hinged handle portion 30 is closed and the belt 104 becomescontained in handle 12. A cartridge 72, 90 is inserted into tube 20though its open end 24 with the screen 78 located away from the open end84 and the tab 80 wrapped over the outer surface of the tube 20 andsecured there by the elastic band 70.

The device 10 is then aimed at a target by locating tube 20 andcartridge 72 near the target. The actuating member 36 is depressedmanually, thereby disengaging the piston assembly 54 from latch pin 58.Spring 50 forces the sealed piston 45 rapidly leftward until pulley 100nearly reaches the end 14 of cylinder 12. This action produces a partialvacuum in tube 20 and cartridge 72, which vacuum draws the target intothe cartridge, where it contacts and adheres to the substance 86 locatedin the cartridge 72, 90.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an alternative embodiment, in which thedevice is armed and latched when a moveable handle portion 110 slidesaxially leftward from the position shown in FIG. 10, guided in an axialrecess 112 formed in a fixed handle portion 114, which is secured tocylinder 12. Handle portions 110 and 114 are preferably each asemi-circular and, when in the position of FIG. 10, together form ahollow circular cylinder, similar to the handle portions 28, 30 shown inFIGS. 2 and 9. Handle portion 110 slides leftward and rightward alonghandle portion 114 due to manual force applied by the user, while handleportion 114 is held to resist movement of the sliding portion 110.

A support 116, secured to handle portion 114 supports pulleys 118, 120,which rotate about lateral axes 122, 124, respectively. In thisembodiment, arming member 40 is replaced by a member 126, secured topiston rod 42 and formed with a lateral hole 128. The actuating piston45, which is located in and moves axially along cylinder 18, is securedto piston rod 42. A flexible belt 130, such as a wire, rope or string,is secured at one of its ends to a radial inner surface 132 of handleportion 110 below axis 26, loops around pulley 118, passes through hole116, loops around pulley 120, and is secured to the inner surface 132 ofhandle portion 110 above axis 26.

In operation, when the device is unarmed, spring 50 moves piston rod 42,recess 44, piston 45 and sliding handle portion 110 axially to theunarmed state of FIG. 10 by forcing piston rod 42 leftward. When thesliding handle portion 110 is moved manually leftward from the positionof FIG. 10, belt 130 is drawn axially about pulley wheels 118, 124 andthrough hole 128. This movement of the belt 130 forces member 126,piston rod 42, recess 44 and piston 45 to move axially to the armedposition, where latch pin 58 engages the recess 44. In the armedposition, piston 45 is located close to the outer end 22 of cylinder 18.

Next, the handle is closed by sliding handle portion 110 rightwardmanually to the position of FIG. 10, which movement draws belt 130 intothe handle. A cartridge 72, 90 is inserted into tube 20 though its openend 24 with the screen 78 located away from the open end 84 and the tab80 wrapped over the outer surface of the tube 20 and secured there bythe elastic band 70.

The device 10 is then aimed at a target by locating tube 20 andcartridge 72 near the target. The actuating member 36 is depressedmanually, thereby disengaging the piston assembly 54 from latch pin 58.Spring 50 forces the piston 45 rapidly leftward until member 126, nearlyreaches the end 14 of cylinder 12. This action produces a partial vacuumin tube 20 and cartridge 72, which vacuum draws the target into thecartridge, where it contacts and adheres to the substance 86 located inthe cartridge 72, 90.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the preferredembodiment has been described. However, it should be noted that thealternate embodiments can be practiced otherwise than as specificallyillustrated and described.

1. A device for entrapping an insect comprising: a cartridge forcontaining and entrapping an insect; a hollow cylinder pneumaticallycommunicating with the cartridge; a piston located in the cylinder andsealed at an inner surface of the cylinder; a spring for urging thepiston to move axially in the cylinder; and a releasable latch forsecuring the piston in an armed state wherein the spring applies a forcetending to move the piston and for releasing the piston from the armedstate to move away from the cartridge and produce a partial vacuum inthe cartridge.
 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a tubeincluding an open end at which the cartridge is removable secured to thetube, and a second end through which the tube pneumatically communicateswith the cylinder.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the cartridgefurther comprises: a passage having a length able to be inserted intothe tube; a second open end; a porous partition secured to the cartridgeand spaced from the second open end; and an adherent contained in thepassage for entrapping an insect brought into contact with the adherent.4. The device of claim 2, wherein the cartridge further comprises: apassage having a length able to be inserted into the tube; a hingedopening at a first end of the passage; a porous partition secured to thecartridge and spaced from the first end of the passage; and an adherentcontained in the passage for entrapping an insect brought into contactwith the adherent.
 5. The device of claim 3, wherein the passage isformed in one of a second hollow cylinder and a truncated hollow conehaving a length able to be inserted into the tube.
 6. The device ofclaim 1, further comprising: piston rod secured to the piston andengageable with the latch; and an actuating member secured to the pistonrod, for moving the piston rod into engagement with the latch.
 7. Thedevice of claim 1, further comprising: piston rod secured to the pistonand formed with a recess; and an actuating member secured to the pistonrod, for moving the recess into engagement with the latch; wherein thelatch further comprises: an actuating member moveable relative to thepiston rod; a second spring for urging the actuating member towardengagement with the recess; and a pin secured to the actuating memberfor engaging the recess and for disengaging the recess in response tomovement of the actuating member.
 8. A device for entrapping an insectcomprising: a cartridge for containing and entrapping an insect; ahollow cylinder pneumatically communicating with the cartridge; a pistonlocated in the cylinder and sealed at an inner surface of the cylinder;a spring for urging the piston to move axially in the cylinder; and anactuator secured to the piston for moving the piston to an armed state,in which the spring applies a force tending to move the piston; and areleasable latch for securing the piston in an armed state and forreleasing the piston from the armed state to move away from thecartridge and produce a partial vacuum in the cartridge.
 9. The deviceof claim 8, wherein the actuator further includes: a first handleportion secured to the cylinder; a second handle portion hinged to pivotwith respect to the first handle portion; a first pulley wheel securedthe piston; a second pulley and a third pulley secured to the piston andspaced axially from the first pulley; and a belt engaging the first,second, and third pulleys, including a first belt end secured to thefirst handle portion and a second belt end secured to the second handleportion, the belt moving the piston into the armed state engagement whenthe second handle portion is pivoted away from the first handle portion.10. The device of claim 8, wherein the actuator further includes: ahollow handle secured to and extending from the cylinder, including ahandle portion hinged to pivot and open the handle for external accessto an interior of the handle; a piston rod secured to the piston,engageable with the latch and extending into the handle; and anactuating member located in the handle, secured to the piston rod andengaged manually for moving the piston rod into engagement with thelatch and for moving the piston in the cylinder toward the cartridge.11. The device of claim 8, wherein the actuator further includes: ahollow handle secured to, extending from the cylinder, and providingexternal access to an interior of the handle; a piston rod secured tothe piston, engageable with the latch and extending into the handle; andan actuating member located in the handle, secured to the piston rod andengaged manually for moving the piston rod into engagement with thelatch and for moving the piston in the cylinder toward the cartridge.12. The device of claim 8, further comprising: a tube including an openend at which the cartridge is removable secured to the tube, and asecond end through which the tube pneumatically communicates with thecylinder.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the cartridge furthercomprises: a passage having a length able to be inserted into the tube;a second open end; a porous partition secured to the cartridge andspaced from the second open end; and an adherent contained in thepassage for entrapping an insect brought into contact with the adherent.14. The device of claim 12, wherein the cartridge further comprises: apassage having a length able to be inserted into the tube; a hingedopening at a first end of the passage; a porous partition secured to thecartridge and spaced from the first end of the passage; and an adherentcontained in the passage for entrapping an insect brought into contactwith the adherent.
 15. The device of claim 13, wherein the passage isformed in one of a second hollow cylinder and a truncated hollow conehaving a length able to be inserted into the tube.
 16. The device ofclaim 13, further comprising: a piston rod secured to the piston, formedwith a recess and secured to the actuator; and an actuating membersecured to the piston rod for moving the recess into engagement with thelatch; wherein the latch further comprises: an actuating member moveablerelative to the piston rod; a second spring for urging the actuatingmember toward engagement with the recess; and a pin secured to theactuating member for engaging the recess and for disengaging the recessin response to movement of the actuating member.
 17. A device forentrapping an insect comprising: a hollow cylinder; a piston located inthe cylinder and producing a vacuum within a suction volume of thecylinder; a tube including an open end, through which an object canenter the tube, and a second end, through which the tube pneumaticallycommunicates with the suction volume; a spring; a hollow handle securedto and extending from the cylinder, providing external access to aninterior of the handle; an actuator located in the handle and externallyaccessible for manually moving the piston to an armed state, in whichthe spring applies a force tending to move the piston; and a releasablelatch for securing the piston in the armed state and for releasing thepiston from the armed state to move away from the tube and produce apartial vacuum in the suction volume and the tube.
 18. The device ofclaim 17, further comprising: a piston rod secured to the piston andactuator and extending into the handle, including a recess engageablewith the latch.
 19. The device of claim 17, further comprising: acartridge removable secured to the tube, pneumatically communicatingwith the cylinder through the tube, and containing an adherent forentrapping an object therein.
 20. The device of claim 19, wherein thecartridge further comprises: a passage having a length able to beinserted into the tube; an open end; and a porous partition secured tothe cartridge and spaced from the open end.